This afternoon, I became aware of the second deadliest mass shooting in the US - a shooting killing 27 people, including 18 children, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, grades kindergarten to grade four. Just reading the news story is horrifying. Only eleven days before Christmas, families in Newtown are utterly devastated.
Mom and I were talking about it a while ago, and we realized that this Christmas, we need to remember the hurting. I think it's easy to get caught up in our own little Christmassy bubble of family and friends and traditions. We like Christmas because of the warm feeling we get and the joyous celebration of Christ's birth. But what about the suffering, the grieving and the broken-hearted? What about those whose Christmas will not be merry? Those who have no warm feelings and aren't surrounded by family, friends and traditions? Those who've lost loved ones, those who have nothing to eat, those who are in slavery, those who are being persecuted, those who are unjustly imprisoned? Yet as we look at all the people in pain in our world, we can be comforted in the assurance that our God is ever-faithful, ever-present and ever-in-control. He's sovereign over all, this Christmas and every day.
So let's remember the hurting this holiday season, and let's remember to pray for them. And then let's remember that though this world seems hopeless, there is hope. We have hope in a future when God "will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) Let us take comfort in these words and look forward to those days with joyous anticipation!
Mom and I were talking about it a while ago, and we realized that this Christmas, we need to remember the hurting. I think it's easy to get caught up in our own little Christmassy bubble of family and friends and traditions. We like Christmas because of the warm feeling we get and the joyous celebration of Christ's birth. But what about the suffering, the grieving and the broken-hearted? What about those whose Christmas will not be merry? Those who have no warm feelings and aren't surrounded by family, friends and traditions? Those who've lost loved ones, those who have nothing to eat, those who are in slavery, those who are being persecuted, those who are unjustly imprisoned? Yet as we look at all the people in pain in our world, we can be comforted in the assurance that our God is ever-faithful, ever-present and ever-in-control. He's sovereign over all, this Christmas and every day.
So let's remember the hurting this holiday season, and let's remember to pray for them. And then let's remember that though this world seems hopeless, there is hope. We have hope in a future when God "will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) Let us take comfort in these words and look forward to those days with joyous anticipation!